Universal joint-coupling



A. H. DE VOE. UNIVERSAL JOINT COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, I9I8.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

INVENTOR flmflw BY WITNESSES ATTORNEY ALBERT H. DE VQE, OF WESTFIELD,NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN'OR TO THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

UNIVERSAL JOWT-GOUPIIING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

'Original application filed June14, 1917, Serial No. 174,647. Dividedand this application filed June 2 2,

1918. Serial No. 241,370.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. DE Von, a citizen of the United States,residing at Westfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in UniversalJoint-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had thereln to the accompanying drawings.

'This invention relates to a universal joint, such as that-disclosed inmy copending application Serial No. 174,647, filed June 14, 1917, ofwhich this is a division.

The objects of my invention-are to provide a universal joint which issimple, can be manufactured at aminimum cost and which is readilyseparable into its compo-- nent parts.

The invention comprises shaft-sections, one of which is provided with aprojection at one end formed with opposed cylindrically convexed faces,the axis of said faces being transverse to the shaft axis. Thisprojection is adapted to be inserted in a transverse slot out in anenlargement on the end of an adjacent shaft-section. Variously modifiedmeans are provided for preventing lateral displacement of theprojection in the slot, and if desired for preventing longitudinaldisplacement.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of theuniversal joint. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken in a plane atright angles to that in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1,showing a slight modification. Fig. 4 is a transverse section throughthe joint shown in Fig. 3, and Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectionssimilar to Fig. 1, showing still further modifications.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the joint comprises a coupling member 1having a socket 2 in which an end of a shaft-section 3 is secured byset-screws 4. The. bottom of the socket is closed except for atransverse slot 5 cut diametrically across the same. The

complementary shaft-section 6 has on its abutting end a projection?which enters the slot 5-. This projection has opposed cylindricallyconvexed faces 8, the elements of which extend substantially parallelwith the walls 9 of the slot. Between these walls the projection 7 maypivot about an axis intermediate thereof and in parallelism therewith.

It may also pivot or twist'between these walls on an axis perpendicularthereto.

The universal joint per se is identical in all forms of the invention.The difference between the forms lies in the means used for retainingthe shaft-sections against lateral or longitudinal displacement.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 provision is made for preventinglateral displacement of the shaft end in the slot 5 by extending therejection 7 slightly beyond the slot and into the socket. 2. In orderthatv there may be relative angular movement of the parts the projection7. is slightly reduced in width at the end (Fig. 2) to permit a limitedplay of the projection in the socket.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4: lat- .eral displacement is preventedby a split keeper ring 10 snapped intoa groove 11 in the coupling, theinternal diameter of this ring being slightly greater than the width vof the projection. j v

A similar result is attained in the form shown in Fig. 5 by securing anexterior ring or washer '12 to the endof the coupling 1, the interiordiameter of this washer also being slightly greater than the width ofthe projection 7.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 a keeper element is provided comprising apin 13 passing through the coupling 1 and projection 7 at right anglesto the length of the slot 5, the opening for said in in projection 7being flared at each emf lar movement.

It will be noted that in the forms shown in to permit relative an- Figs.1 to- 5 only lateral displacement of the shaft-sections is prevented,and the sections may be readily uncoupled by merely moving them endwise,but in the form shown in Fig.

6 both lateral and longitudinal displacement are prevented by the pin13. The invention is not limited to the s ecific construction shown anddescribed, an may be modified in various ways within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus set. forth invention, what I claim herein isl. Ina universaljoint for line shafts made up of a plurality of sections, couplingmembers on the abutti ends of adjacent shaftsections, one of saicoupling members having substantially fiat Walls defining a diathenature of the metrically arranged slot therein with a central recess atthe bottom of the slot and the other of said coupling members havin atongue-like projection with convex cy indrical faces the elements ofwhich faces are which are all parallel to one another, a one-- piececoupling member having walls in tangential engagement with said faces,said onepiece coupling being secured to an adjacent shaft-section, andmeans disposed internally of said coupling for loosely keeping saidfaces and walls against lateral displacement sufiicient to disengage thecooperative faces and walls but permitting a limited relative angularrotation thereof about an axis at right angles to said walls.

3. A universal coupling for line shafting comprising a plurality ofsections, one of said sections being formed at one end with parallelfiat faces and an adjacent central aperture and the other of saidsections being formed with curved faces disposed upo opposite sides of"its axis and in engagement with said flat faces and extending into saidaperture whereby relative lateral displacement of the sections isprevented.

a. lin a universal joint, a socket member having a bore therein and aslot across its memes" bore, a shaft section secured in said bore, a

second shaft section having curved faces adjacent its end cooperatingwith the walls of said slot to provide for universal movement, and theend projecting into said bore, whereby a relative bodily lateralmovement of the sections is prevented.

5. lln a universal joint, a socket member having a diametrical slot atone end and a bore of greater diameter than the width of the slotextending into its other end and terminating at the bottom of said slot,a shaft section secured in said bore, a second shaft section having atone end op osed curved faces extending transversely 0 its axis, saidfaces having a straight line engagement with the walls of said slot andextending into the bore, the portion extending therein being slightlynarrowed.

6. lln a universal joint, a socket member having a bore extending partlytherethrough,

ashaft section secured in said bore with its end terminating short ofthe end of the bore, said socket member having a diametrical slot acrossits closed end opening into said bore, and a second shaft section of thesame diameter as the first formed at one end with cylindrically convexopposed faces transverse to its axis, said faces being disposed betweenand in contact with the walls all said slot, the extreme end of saidsecond shaft being slightly tapered in a direction transverse to saidfaces and extending into said bore beyond said slot,

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specificationaneniar a on von.

